Choice Cuts: November 2004

to drink. Glimmers of hope, then, become moments of euphoria, as on the absorbing "This American Dream."

Highlight Tracks: "This American Dream" and "Singing to the Thieves"

For More Info: Visit http://www.williamlazarus.com

Artist: ME FIRST AND THE GIMME GIMMES

Album: Ruin Jonny's Bar Mitzvah

The Scoop: A lot of noise was made in the past year about NOFX and Fat Wreck Chords leader Fat Mike having a political awakening, which led to the fruitful Punkvoter tour/campaign. Anyone worried about the man or the scene taking itself too seriously should take a dive into this live album, recorded at an actual bar mitzvah (the enhanced CD offers amusing video proof). A brief background on the band: they're a motley cover band composed of players with distinguished pedigrees (from NOFX to Foo Fighters and Lagwagon). For source material this time around, they tackle the likes of Zeppelin, Blondie, Billy Joel and Willie Nelson. Everything is put through a speed blender, of course, but for all the punked-up adulterations, the boys are actually pretty faithful to the originals. As novelty acts go, it's an engagingly good time. They even take a swing at "Hava Nagila," and then, not satisfied with the traditional tune, they reset it as a mash-up with Jewish fave "Feliz Navidad."

Highlight Tracks: "The Longest Time" and "Heart of Glass"

For More Info: Check out http://www.gimmegimmes.com

Artist: VARIOUS ARTISTS

Album: My Favorite Song Writers

The Scoop: Homewrecker alert! To celebrate their tenth release, the discriminating folks at Five One decided to invite some of their favorite songwriters to check their bands at the door and contribute a solo track for a compilation. The result manages to be both an eclectic and consistent listen, featuring two songs sung in Japanese, two instrumental electronic doodles, and smart songwriting from top to bottom. The most interesting tracks were turned in by Cursive's Tim Kasher and Sparta's Jim Ward. Kasher's homemade "Stranger Than Strangers" is a sorrowful tale of a marriage falling apart that bears his reliably poignant lyrics ("I can see you boxing up the kitchen with the girls beside you wrapping dishes"). The music, interestingly, is more in the computerized vein of The Postal Service than either Cursive or The Good Life. Ward's "These Years" is also a departure, featuring an airy chorus that is backed by what almost sounds like a techno beat. Elsewhere, the shadow of Elliott Smith is seen is potentially

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